The Twins Almanac: Kirby Sparkles, Bert Snarls, Carew Just Straight-Up Rakes

[Matt Johnson]

Puckett Flashes His Golden Glove (1993)

Kirby Puckett made a heckuva catch to rob future Twins coach Butch Davis of a home run on this date in 1993. (Unfortunately, Charlie Leibrandt and the Rangers won 1-0.) 

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Carew Begins Streak of Three-Hit Games (1975)

 

Second baseman Rod Carew began a team record five-game streak of three-hit games on this date in 1975. The major league record is six-straight games.

(The Twins lost all five home games.)

 

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Blyleven Gives Hecklers the Ol' One-Finger Salute (1976)

With contract negotiations at a standstill and trade rumors swirling, Bert Blyleven walked off the mound after the top of the ninth trailing the Angels 3-1. There were only 8,379 fans at Metropolitan Stadium that day, and some were giving the pitcher grief, singing “bye-bye Bertie.” Before he got to the dugout, Blyleven, visibly angry, looked to the stands and gave the hecklers the middle finger. The next day, he was traded with Danny Thompson to the Texas Rangers for four players, including Roy Smalley.

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Happy Birthday to Kevin Sevcik

 

Happy 68th birthday to Northfield native Kevin Sevcik, who the Twins drafted out of St. Olaf in 1978. 

Fun Fact: He was teammates at Elizabethton with Jesse Orosco. After Sevcik's brief stint in pro ball, he enjoyed a long townball career and remained a big Twins fan. It must have seemed surreal to see Orosco pitch for the Twins in 2003, a literal QUARTER CENTURY after they were teammates in the minors! 

The Twins first-round pick in 1978 was Lenny Faedo. They also selected Willmar native Wade Adamson and Bloomington native Kent Hrbek that year. 

 

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[twinstalker]

Hrbek.  That's a funny name.

Did he play townball, too?